The next few days passed in a blur of little sleep and lots of action. I spent most of my time with Arianna altering the wards and traps for the Villa. Bobby worked on the physical defenses of the grounds with everyone else. When we were done, the Villa was as well protected as we could make it. Magic protected the perimeter and made the area approaching the house a killing ground for vampires. The area closer to the house was protected with assorted mundane tricks they were guaranteed not to like.
The night that we finished I returned to my house to do some research in my library. I could have used the one in the Villa but I wanted some privacy. I called Arianna and she said she would be over as soon as she finished what she was doing. By the way she sounded on the phone I could imagine just what she was doing. I hung up the phone and turned back to my computer. I checked again on the progress of my search bots but they had found nothing to explain the cold fireball.
I was about to resort to posting a message on the Order's message boards when I heard the chiming of my wards. Arianna shimmered into visibility seated in one of the chairs facing my desk as I watched and I smiled, pausing in my posting. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything, Arianna." I grinned.
"You did." She said. "But I am used to you interrupting. You have a knack for it. What did you need?"
"I have a question about magic. If you don't have the answer I will have to ask the Order. That will cause a shitstorm because of how it came about." She nodded and rested her chin in her palm listening. "The other night I was jumped by some vampires. I used a spell I came up with to drain the 'life' from one of the vampires." I didn't really pay any attention to the worried look that flashed across her face as I continued. "I then used that essence to power some more spells that I have found. I used the last of it along with the normal power to power a fireball. It was a dark fireball but instead of being hot when it exploded, it was cold. Admittedly I haven't used that spell before but that just didn't feel right." I looked at Arianna, noticing the worried look on her face. "What is it, Arianna?"
Arianna leaned forward, looking at me closely and I could see that she was looking at me astrally. Finally she spoke, her voice showing she was upset. "You used a spell to, first of all, drain a vampire's life, then you used that life to power spells?" At my hesitant nod she frowned deeply. "Tre, those are spells that you shouldn't know, and if you did know them, you shouldn't use them. They are," she paused, thinking. "Those spells generally come from a, for lack of a better term, demonic source. The people that know them and can use them are generally in service to some dark power."
As I started to speak she held up a hand. "Those spells cause damage to the body, Tre. They are not safe to use." She shook her head. "I don't know how you learned those spells or even how you can use them safely. I do not see any of the usual marks of any demons or anything like that on you. You know, like those who have made a pact with a dark power show."
I finally interrupted her. "You know I haven't made any pacts with demons or any... dark power. The idea for the spell just came to me. So did using the life I drained from the vampire to fuel the spells. I felt a little nauseous after draining the vamp so I decided to use the essence against his buddies."
"'A little nauseous'?" She said, leaning forward even more, and then standing. "Tre that in itself worries me. The last time I saw somebody use that spell without a demon's help he drew the essence into him and was immediately on the ground sick. He was sick for days, fever, weakness, nausea. Anytime somebody gave him food or drink it came right back up. They had to feed him intravenously until the essence dissipated on its own."
I leaned back in my chair, nodding, deep in thought. I had used something that I was not supposed to with very little ill effects. Something stirred in my mind but I was unable to grasp it before it was gone. "I don't understand it, Arianna. But I will keep investigating. I have to know why now. If this isn't normal for a mage to be able to do I have to know why I can."
She nodded, her hair rustling quietly. "Be careful, Tre. There are lots of mages, especially among the older vampires who have ignored you until now, who will destroy you without a thought if they get even an inkling that you possess this... ability."
"I know. I guess I will have to check with the Order and see what they can tell me." I sighed and rubbed my face tiredly before dropping my hands to the desk. "I know they are going to want me to come to the Motherhouse to be examined. I can't do that right now though. But if I refuse, they will send someone to 'escort' me."
A knock at the door surprised both of us. I looked out the window and saw a nondescript dark sedan parked in the road with the lights on. I took a quick look out with astral perception and then stood up, walking around the desk and, gesturing to Arianna to stay put, made my way out to the front door. I opened the door and looked around it at the man standing there in the brightness of the front porch. "May I help you?"
The man in the dark suit nodded. "Yes you can, Mr. Lloyd." He brought out an envelope sealed with blue wax and held it out to me. I looked at it but refused to take it and he reached into his coat and brought out an ID wallet, opening it and showing me the sign of the Order of Hecate. "My name is Alan Williams." I took the ID and looked at it carefully. "I was sent by Consul Telemon. He requests your presence at the Chapter house in New York."
I scanned him astrally, noting that he was a physical adept, trained to a high level in his physical skills as Akiro and Keio were. I handed the ID back and took the envelope from him. "What does he want me to come to New York for? Did he say?"
The courier shook his head. "He did not say. I would imagine that the letter will explain. The only other thing he told me was to tell you that the spirit Arianna's presence was required as well. Good evening, Mr. Lloyd." He turned and walked away without another word.
I shut the door behind him and walked back to my office. I sat down in my chair and set the letter down. "That was odd. Our presence is requested at the Order Chapter house in New York."
Arianna looked surprised. "Mine? Are you sure?"
Nodding I picked up the envelope and examined it before breaking the seal and pulling out the folded sheet of parchment within. It had the Order's coat of arms at the top in one corner and the Inner Circle's in the other. Below that in the center of the paper was Telemon's seal as Consul of the Order. I skimmed the letter in disbelief before beginning to read it out loud to Arianna.
